Automatic control mechanism



June 28, 1932. w. R. PENDRY AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 20,1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2 1932. w. R. PENDRY AUTOMATIC CONTROLMECHANISM Filed May 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 671/50?! fl aL/mv E.PEA/DEV) Eatented dune 2, l9"

WTLLTAEE R. TENDBT, Q1 CLEVELAND, OHIO AUTQMTIC CNTRL ELL'ECEIAIQTISMApplication filed. ma ac, read serial in. 454,055.

This invention relates to an automatic control apparatus and, while notlimited thereto, relates more particularly to an automatic control forthe turbine of a turbine driven gas 5 booster system, including a gasholder from which the gas is pumped.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel control operable bythe fall and rise of the gas holder, whereby said holder will bemaintained at or near its uppermost position at all times in order tomaintain a constant pressure on the gas.

The invention is primarily intended for use with the gas holder used tostore gas from 15 Toy-product coke ovens, and since such holders supplythe gas for heating said ovens, it is necessary to maintain asubstantially constant pressure on the gas. The excess gas is withdrawnfrom the holder and used for other 20 purposes, and it is the purpose ofthis invention to regulate the amount of gas with drawn from the holderfor other uses than heating the ovens so as to provide a substantiallyconstant pressure of gas for the ovens.

lln the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a gas holder having the control mechanism ofthis invention connected therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the walking pipe showing itsvarious elements.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail of the upper end of the verticalsection of the walking pipe.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the diaphragm operatedcontrol valve for controlling the flow of fluid to the turbine orbooster, the diaphragm portion of the valve being partly in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates thegas holder which is of standard design and the letter B designates thebuilding housing, gas booster 2 and control mechanism. r The booster 2may be of any standard type,

the one shown being of the turbine driven centrifugal type. The turbineof the booster 2 is adapted to receive steam from a line 3 through adiaphragm operated valve 4:. The diaphragm 5 of the valve 4 is normallyurged toward extended. position so as to normally urge the valve 4toward open position by a spring 6.

The diaphragm 5 is adapted to be operated by hydrostatic pressure and apipe line 7 is connected to the diaphragm chamber and to a verticallymovable or walking pipe C. The walking pipe C comprises a swingingsection 8 which has a pivotal connection 9 to the pipe line 7, and avertical leg 10 which is provided with a pivotal connection 12 to theswinging section 8. The vertical leg 10 is provided with an eye 13 atits upper end to which a cable or other flexible member 14 is connected.The cable 14 is trained over suitable sheaves 15 and connected to theupper end of the gas holder A, as at 16.

The cable 14 is looped downwardly, as at 16, between two of the sheaves15, and a sheave 17 is mounted in the loop and has a counter-weight 18suspended therefrom.

In operation, the walking pipe Q will be caused to rise and fall inaccordance to the rise and fall of the gas holder A, due to theconnecting cable 14. The rise of the pipe U is limited by the floorbeams 20 and the fall by the support 21. However, the gas holder A mayover-run the limited travel of the pipe C, due to the counter-weightedloop 16.

llt is apparent that when the control system is once filled with wateror other fluid to the level of overflow 26 of the walking pipe C therewill be no need for additional water or other liquid except to make upfor such losses as may occur from leaks or evaporation, but as theselosses are inevitable convenient means is provided for supplying, eitherconstantly or intermittently, water or other fluid to the system tomaintain a constant head in the walking pipe C by a supply pipe 23 whichis connected to the pipe line 7 and extends vertically to a point equalto or above the highest point to which the vertical leg 10 of thewalking pipe C is lifted. The pipe 23 is adapted to have water or otherfluid supplied thereto by a feed line 2%.

It is apparent that when the walking pipe C raises and lowers, the levelof the water or other liquid in small supply pipe 23 and small vent pipe29 Will rise and fallwithin the limits of vertical travel of head25 inits lower and upper positions.

To provide a reservoir for the water or other liquid required to fillpipes 23 and 29 when the vertical leg 10 of the walking pipe C raises toits uppermost position without materially lowering the head of theliquid, the upper end of the vertical leg 10 of the walking pipe C isenlarged, as at 25, to provide a reservoir for the water or other liquidso that when the gas holder drops and the walking pipe C is raised thetotal head will not be materially lessened. The enlarged portion 25 ofthe vertical leg 10 is provided with an overflow outlet 26 adapted todischarge into a funnel-shaped end 27 of a drain pipe 28.

During the operation of the apparatus air may become locked in thediaphragm chamber of the Valve 4, and in order to prevent this, a smallvent pipe 29 is connected with the diaphragm chamber of the valve andextended upwardly to a point above the maximum water level in thevertical leg 10 of the pipe C when said pipe is in its uppermostposition.

In operation, when gas is being withdrawn from the gas holder A at agreater rate than it is being delivered to said holder, the holder willdrop, thus raising the walking pipe C and increasing the hydrostaticpressure on the diaphragm 5 of the valve 4. When the hydrostaticpressure on the diaphragm 5 of the valve 4. is increased the valve 4will be closed an amount in proportion to the increase in hydrostaticpressure, thereby decreasing. the speed of the pump or booster 2 andreducing the amount of gas being withdrawn from the gas holder A. As thevolume of gas in the gas holder A increases the holder will rise and thepipe C will fall an amount proportionate to the rise of said holder, soas to lower or reduce the hydrostatic pressure on the diaphragm 5 of thevalve 4 and permit said valve to open and increase the speed of thebooster 2.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my inventionit will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, sincevarious modifications may be made without departing from the scope of myinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a turbine driven gas booster system including a gasholder, an automatic control mechanism comprising a diaphragm controlvalve for controlling the steam supply to the turbine, means including awalking pipe for supplying hydrostatic pressure to said diaphragm valve,means connecting said walking pipe with said gas holder for causing saidwalking pipe to change its vertical position in accordance with the falland lift of said 05 holder so as to vary the hydrostatic pressureincluding a gas holder, an automatic control mechanism comprising adiaphragm control valve for controlling the steam supply to the turbine,means including a walking pipe for supplying hydrostatic pressure tosaid diaphragm valve, a cable connected to said walking pipe and to saidgas holder for causing said pipe to change its vertical position inaccordance with the lift and fall of said holder, said cable beingtrained over suitable sheaves and provided with a counter-weighted loopwhereby overrun of said holder is permitted.

3. In a turbine driven gas booster system including a gas holder, anautomatic control mechanism comprising a diaphragm control valve forcontrolling the steam supply to the turbine, means including a walkingpipe for supplying hydrostatic pressure to said diaphragm valve, a cableconnected to said walking pipe and to said gas holder for causing saidpipe to change its vertical position in accordance with the lift andfall of said holder, said cable being trained over suitable sheaves andprovided with a counter-weighted loop whereby overrun of said holder ispermitted means for receiving the overflow from said pipe, and means forsupplying fluid to said pipe to maintain a constant head in said pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM R. PENDRY.

